Muirbeath Colliery

Overview

Henry Ness and Co.'s two pits on the Burgh of Dunfermline's Highholm coalfield, north-east of Dunfermline, begun in 1892 and known locally as the Muirbeath pits. They employed about 300 men in the 1900s and closed in 1914.

History

The Highholm coalfield, 225 acres north-east of Dunfermline, belonged to the Burgh of Dunfermline and had been worked with the burgh's Muircockhall field by the Dunfermline Coal Company until about 1888, when that company gave both up as unprofitable. Muircockhall was then leased to Henry Ness and Co., and in November 1891 the burgh re-let Highholm to the same firm for a fixed rent of £320 or a royalty. In May 1892 the business was registered as Henry Ness and Co. Ltd, with a capital of £25,000.

Two new pits near South Highholm farm, probably the last sunk in the Highholm field, were begun in October 1892 and opened in 1894, and became known locally as the Muirbeath pits; they also reached the seams of the older Highholm pits. They worked household, manufacturing and steam coals from the Cairncubie, Three Feet, Six Feet, Eight Feet, Fourteen Feet and Dunfermline Splint seams, the Three Foot carrying a band of first-class cannel. Employment rose from 110 in 1896 to 307 in 1905, with Joseph Cochrane as manager, and fell to 190 in 1911. The Mynheer was abandoned in January 1912 and the Cairncubie in November 1914, when the pits closed.

Geology

West Fife coalfield: the Cairncubie, Three Feet (with a band of cannel), Six Feet, Eight Feet, Fourteen Feet, Mynheer and Dunfermline Splint seams, with the Swallowdrum Coal and Muircockhall Parrot ironstone below.

Workings

Muirbeath Nos. 1 and 2 pits near South Highholm farm (1892-94), reaching the seams of the older Highholm pits.

Closure

The Cairncubie seam was abandoned in November 1914, when the pits closed.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• Muircockhall Colliery — Both worked by Henry Ness and Co. on the Burgh of Dunfermline's minerals; combined abandonment plans cover Muircockhall and Muirbeath.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• In November 1891 the Burgh of Dunfermline re-let the Highholm coalfield to Henry Ness and Co., already lessees of Muircockhall. ¹
• Development of the Muirbeath pits began in October 1892; they opened in 1894 and closed in 1914. ¹
• Muirbeath employed 110 in 1896 and 307 in 1905. ²
• In 1910 Muirbeath worked the Cairncubie, Eight Feet, Fourteen Feet, Six Feet and Three Feet seams. ²
• Combined abandonment plans cover Muircockhall Nos. 1 and 2, Townhill No. 7 and Muirbeath Nos. 1 and 2. ³

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Highholm (Muirbeath) Nos. 1, 2 Pits, Dunfermline — Fife Pits and Memorial Book (Michael Martin)
2. (primary) Muirbeath Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
3. (primary) BGS mine plan: Muircockhall Nos. 1 & 2 / Townhill No. 7 / Muirbeath Nos. 1 & 2, Ketty Main (Six Feet) — BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plans

Record created: 4 October 2026 · Last researched: 4 October 2026